There has been much discussion as to the original meaning of the Semitic root Q-D-SH, by which the notion of holiness is expressed in the Old Testament. Some would connect it with an Assyrian word denoting purity, clearness; most modern scholars incline to the view that the primary idea is that of cutting off or separation. Etymology gives no sure verdict on the point, but the idea of separation lends itself best to the various senses in which the word "holiness" is employed. In primitive Semitic usage "holiness" seems to have expressed nothing more than that ceremonial separation of an object from common use which the modern study of savage religions has rendered familiar under the name of taboo (W.R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, Lect iv). But within the Biblical sphere, with which alone we are immediately concerned, holiness attaches itself first of all, not to visible objects, but to the invisible Yahweh, and to places, seasons, things and human beings only in so far as they are associated with Him. And while the idea of ceremonial holiness runs through the Old Testament, the ethical significance which Christianity attributes to the term is never wholly absent, and gradually rises in the course of the revelation into more emphatic prominence.

1. The Holiness of God:

As applied to God the notion of holiness is used in the Old Testament in two distinct senses:

(1) Absoluteness and Majesty

First in the more general sense of separation from all that is human and earthly. It thus denotes the absoluteness, majesty, and awfulness of the Creator in His distinction from the creature. In this use of the word, "holiness" is little more than an equivalent general term for "Godhead," and the adjective "holy" is almost synonymous with "Divine" (compare Daniel 4:8, 9, 18; Daniel 5:11). Yahweh's "holy arm" (Isaiah 52:10Psalm 98:1) is His Divine arm, and His "holy name" (Leviticus 20:3, etc.) is His Divine name. When Hannah sings "There is none holy as Yahweh" (1 Samuel 2:2), the rest of the verse suggests that she is referring, not to His ethical holiness, but simply to His supreme Divinity.

(2) Ethical Holiness

But, in the next place, holiness of character in the distinct ethical sense is ascribed to God. The injunction, "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2), plainly implies an ethical conception. Men cannot resemble God in His incommunicable attributes. They can reflect His likeness only along the lines of those moral qualities of righteousness and love in which true holiness consists. In the Psalmists and Prophets the Divine holiness becomes, above all, an ethical reality convicting men of sin (Isaiah 6:3, 1) and demanding of those who would stand in His presence clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3 f).

2. Holiness of Place, Time and Object:

From the holiness of God is derived that ceremonial holiness of things which is characteristic of the Old Testament religion. Whatever is connected with the worship of the holy Yahweh is itself holy. Nothing is holy in itself, but anything becomes holy by its consecration to Him. A place where He manifests His presence is holy ground (Exodus 3:5). The tabernacle or temple in which His glory is revealed is a holy building (Exodus 28:292 Chronicles 35:5); and all its sacrifices (Exodus 29:33), ceremonial materials (30:25; Numbers 5:17) and utensils (1 Kings 8:4) are also holy. The Sabbath is holy because it is the Sabbath of the Lord (Exodus 20:8-11). "Holiness, in short, expresses a relation, which consists negatively in separation from common use, and positively in dedication to the service of Yahweh" (Skinner in HDB, II, 395).

3. Holiness of Men:

The holiness of men is of two kinds:

(1) Ceremonial

A ceremonial holiness, corresponding to that of impersonal objects and depending upon their relation to the outward service of Yahweh. Priests and Levites are holy because they have been "hallowed" or "sanctified" by acts of consecration (Exodus 29:1Leviticus 8:12, 30). The Nazirite is holy because he has separated himself unto the Lord (Numbers 6:5). Above all, Israel, notwithstanding all its sins and shortcomings, is holy, as a nation separated from other nations for Divine purposes and uses (Exodus 19:6, etc.; compare Leviticus 20:24).

(2) Ethical and Spiritual

But out of this merely ceremonial holiness there emerges a higher holiness that is spiritual and ethical. For unlike other creatures man was made in the image of God and capable of reflecting the Divine likeness. And as God reveals Himself as ethically holy, He calls man to a holiness resembling His own (Leviticus 19:2). In the so-called "Law of Holiness" (Leviticus 17:1-26:46), God's demand for moral holiness is made clear; and yet the moral contents of the Law are still intermingled with ceremonial elements (Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 19:19; Leviticus 21:1). In psalm and prophecy, however, a purely ethical conception comes into view-the conception of a human holiness which rests upon righteousness and truth (Psalm 15:1 f) and the possession of a contrite and humble spirit (Isaiah 57:15). This corresponds to the knowledge of a God who, being Himself ethically holy, esteems justice, mercy and lowly piety more highly than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6Micah 6:6-8).

II. In the New Testament: The Christian Conception.

The idea of holiness is expressed here chiefly by the word hagios and its derivatives, which correspond very closely to the words of the Q-D-SH group in Hebrew, and are employed to render them in the Septuagint. The distinctive feature of the New Testament idea of holiness is that the external aspect of it has almost entirely disappeared, and the ethical meaning has become supreme. The ceremonial idea still exists in contemporary Judaism, and is typically represented by the Pharisees (Mark 7:1-13Luke 18:11 f). But Jesus proclaimed a new view of religion and morality according to which men are cleansed or defiled, not by anything outward, but by the thoughts of their hearts (Matthew 15:17-20), and God is to be worshipped neither in Samaria nor Jerusalem, but wherever men seek Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24).

In keeping with the fact that things are holy in a derivative sense through their relationship to God, the word is used of Jerusalem (Matthew 4:5), the Old Testament covenant (Luke 1:72), the Scriptures (Romans 1:2), the Law (Romans 7:12), the Mount of Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:18), etc.

4. Applied to Christians:

But it is especially in its application to Christians that the idea of holiness meets us in the New Testament in a sense that is characteristic and distinctive. Christ's people are regularly called "saints" or holy persons, and holiness in the high ethical and spiritual meaning of the word is used to denote the appropriate quality of their life and conduct.

(1) As Separate from the World

No doubt, as applied to believers, "saints" conveys in the first place the notion of a separation from the world and a consecration to God. Just as Israel under the old covenant was a chosen race, so the Christian church in succeeding to Israel's privileges becomes a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), and the Christian individual, as one of the elect people, becomes a holy man or woman (Colossians 3:12). In Paul's usage all baptized persons are "saints," however far they may still be from the saintly character (compare 1 Corinthians 1:2, 14 with 5:1).

(2) As Bound to the Pursuit of an Ethical Ideal

But though the use of the name does not imply high ethical character as a realized fact, it always assumes it as an ideal and an obligation. It is taken for granted that the Holy Spirit has taken up His abode in the heart of every regenerate person, and that a work of positive sanctification is going on there. The New Testament leaves no room for the thought of a holiness divorced from those moral qualities which the holy God demands of those whom He has called to be His people.

The Holiness of God... 3. God and his creation 7. The Holiness Of God. The next attribute is God'sholiness. Exodus 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 the holiness of god.htm

Note A. Holiness as Proprietorship.... NOTE A. Holiness as Proprietorship. In a little book"Holiness, as understood by the Writers of the Bible; A Bible Study by Joseph .../.../murray/holy in christ/note a holiness as proprietorship.htm

For Holiness.... DEVOUT EXERCISES. 490. " For Holiness. 490. SM Methodist Coll. For Holiness. 1 The thing my God doth hate That I no more may .../.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/490 for holiness.htm

His Perfect Holiness.... THE PERSON OF CHRIST. HIS PERFECT HOLINESS. A SINLESS Saviour, surrounded by a sinful world, is an astounding fact indeed; a sublime moral miracle in history. ...//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/his perfect holiness.htm

Ninth Day. Holiness and Mediation.... Ninth Day. Holiness and Mediation. 'And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And it shall .../.../murray/holy in christ/ninth day holiness and mediation.htm

Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory.... Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory. 'Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods? Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? ...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/holy in christ/sixth day holiness and glory.htm

Addresses on Holiness,... CHAPTER XII. ADDRESSES ON HOLINESS,. ... I said, "Oh, my God! it has come to something if holiness and Jesus Christ are at the antipodes of each other. ...//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter xii addresses on holiness.htm

1 Corinthians 6:13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.Topicalbible.org

3 John 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 2:16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase to more ungodliness.Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;Topicalbible.org

Anger (387 Occurrences)... or vindictive personal feeling. The anger of God is the response of His holiness to outbreaking sin. Particularly when it culminates .../a/anger.htm - 54k

Omnipotence (2 Occurrences)... His omnipotence. Under this head especially God's nature as Spirit and His holiness come under consideration. The representation .../o/omnipotence.htm - 24k

Defilement (12 Occurrences)... common among many nations in some form, the Divine purpose was clearly to impress deeply and indelibly on the Israelites the ideas of holiness and sacredness .../d/defilement.htm - 21k

Defile (63 Occurrences)... common among many nations in some form, the Divine purpose was clearly to impress deeply and indelibly on the Israelites the ideas of holiness and sacredness .../d/defile.htm - 38k

Immaculate... at conception and carried on throughout the life is an utter impossibility, for the Holy Spirit does not work impersonally, and miraculous holiness which is .../i/immaculate.htm - 16k

Conception (6 Occurrences)... at conception and carried on throughout the life is an utter impossibility, for the Holy Spirit does not work impersonally, and miraculous holiness which is .../c/conception.htm - 19k

Beauty (98 Occurrences)... be conducted. Beauty of form and color and harmony of sound were then and there integrated-made one-with worship in holiness. The .../b/beauty.htm - 45k

Liberty (32 Occurrences)... state. In a positive respect, it consists in the possession of holiness, with the will and ability to do what is right and good. .../l/liberty.htm - 20k

Bible Concordance

Holiness (76 Occurrences)

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?(KJV WBS)

Romans 1:4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (KJV WEY DBY WBS NIV)

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.(KJV DBY WBS NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption;(DBY NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit.(WEY)

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.(KJV WBS RSV)

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. (See NIV)

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.(KJV WEY DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;(KJV WBS)

Hebrews 12:10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:(KJV WEY DBY WBS RSV NIV)

2 Peter 3:11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?(See RSV)

Exodus 15:11 Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 15:13 Thou by thy mercy hast led forth the people that thou hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them by thy strength unto the abode of thy holiness. (DBY)

Exodus 28:36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.(KJV DBY WBS)

Exodus 39:30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.(KJV DBY WBS)

Deuteronomy 32:51 Because of your sin against me before the children of Israel at the waters of Meribath Kadesh in the waste land of Zin; because you did not keep my name holy among the children of Israel. (See NIV)

1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.(KJV JPS WBS YLT NIV)

2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.(KJV JPS WBS YLT NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:18 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 2:6 And I have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness.(DBY)

Psalms 3:4 With my voice will I call to Jehovah, and he will answer me from the hill of his holiness. Selah.(DBY)

Psalms 5:7 But as for me, in the greatness of thy loving-kindness will I enter thy house; I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.(DBY)

Psalms 11:4 Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, his throne is in the heavens: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.(DBY)

Psalms 15:1 {A Psalm of David.} Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tent? who shall dwell in the hill of thy holiness?(DBY)

Psalms 20:6 Now know I that Jehovah saveth his anointed; he answereth him from the heavens of his holiness, with the saving strength of his right hand.(DBY)

Psalms 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward the oracle of thy holiness.(DBY)

Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (KJV JPS WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. (KJV DBY WBS)

Psalms 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.(KJV DBY WBS)

Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.(DBY)

Psalms 60:6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them: it is a Sinai in holiness. (DBY JPS NAS)

Psalms 68:24 They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. (See JPS)

Psalms 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God? (See JPS YLT)

Psalms 87:1 {Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. A Song.} His foundation is in the mountains of holiness. (DBY)

Psalms 89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.(KJV JPS WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 99:9 Exalt Jehovah our God, and worship at the hill of his holiness; for holy is Jehovah our God.(DBY)

Psalms 108:7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.(KJV JPS WBS YLT)

Psalms 138:2 I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness, and celebrate thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.(DBY)

Ecclesiastes 8:10 So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity. (WEB)

Isaiah 23:18 Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before Yahweh, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Isaiah 29:23 When he seeth his children, the work of My hands, in the midst of him, that they sanctify My name; yea, they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall stand in awe of the God of Israel.(See NIV)

Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Isaiah 62:9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.(KJV DBY WBS)

Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where are your zeal and your mighty acts? the yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Isaiah 63:18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. (KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase: all who devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come on them, says Yahweh.(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 23:9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.(KJV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 31:23 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captivity: Yahweh bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 20:41 I will take pleasure in you as in a sweet smell, when I take you out from the peoples and get you together from the countries where you have been sent in flight; and I will make myself holy in you before the eyes of the nations.(See RSV)

Ezekiel 28:22 and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon, and I will be glorified in the midst of thee; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 28:25 This is what the Lord has said: When I have got together the children of Israel from the peoples among whom they are wandering, and have been made holy among them before the eyes of the nations, then they will have rest in the land which is theirs, which I gave to my servant Jacob(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 36:23 And I will make holy my great name which has been made unclean among the nations, which you have made unclean among them; and it will be clear to the nations that I am the Lord, says the Lord, when I make myself holy in you before their eyes.(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 38:16 And you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land; and it will come about, in the last days, that I will make you come against my land, so that the nations may have knowledge of me when I make myself holy in you, O Gog, before their eyes.(See RSV)

Ezekiel 38:23 And I will make my name great and make myself holy, and I will make myself clear to a number of nations; and they will be certain that I am the Lord.(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 39:27 When I have taken them back from among the peoples and got them together out of the lands of their haters, and have made myself holy in them before the eyes of a great number of nations.(See RSV)

Ezekiel 44:19 And in their going forth unto the outer court -- unto the outer court unto the people -- they strip off their garments, in which they are ministering, and have placed them in the holy chambers, and have put on other garments; and they do not sanctify the people in their own garments.(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 46:20 And he said to me, This is the place where the offering for error and the sin-offering are to be cooked in water by the priests, and where the meal offering is to be cooked in the oven; so that they may not be taken out into the outer square to make the people holy.(See NAS RSV)

Amos 4:2 The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness that behold, "The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Obadiah 1:17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.(KJV WBS)

Zechariah 14:20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.(KJV DBY WBS)

Zechariah 14:21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.(KJV DBY WBS)

Malachi 2:11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)